Int. J. Biochem. Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 681-483, 1992
Pergamon Press pk. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS
Hydrogen Bonding in Biological Structure+-G. A. JEFFREY chemical nature of E catalysis; binding of ligands to proteins; sigmoid kinetics and allosteric E; use of E in biological and W. SAENGER. 569~~. 1991. Springer, Berlin. DM 198. preparations; extraction and purification of E; E as analytical reagents; instrumental techniques; applications of E in The relative unspecificity and weakness of the hydrogen medicine and industry; biotechnological application of E. bond (H) of only - 3 kcal/mol are of prime importance for Students will find this a very useful book. life. All biological processes involve intermolecular recognition which has to be rapid, close to a time scale of IO9set-‘; thus rapid association and dissociation are reProtein Engineering-P. C. E. MOODYand A. J. WILKINSON. quired. Water is the matrix in which biochemistry takes 85 pp. 1990. IRL/Oxford University Press, Oxford. $13.95 place and the structure of water and the use of hydrogen paperback. bonds has determined much of amino acid, peptide, protein, carbohydrate, nucleic acid, and membrane structure and Protein engineering is concerned with the construction, function. The topics dealt with in this book are; the importanalysis and use of modified proteins. After an introduction ance of the H; definitions and concepts; experimental study and an account of protein structure, the book deals with the of H; H geometries; small molecular structural studies; preparation and analysis of mutant proteins; site directed two-center H; three and four center H; intermolecular H; mutagenesis [tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, serine proteases, weak H found in C-H groups; halides and halogen atoms chloramphenicol acetyl transferase, repressor proteins]; taias H acceptors; H in carbohydrates; H in amino acids, loring protein properties and functions [faster acting inpeptides and zwitterions; base pairing in purines and pyrimsulins, antibodies, subtilisin, engineering thermostability in idines; H in nucleosides and nucleotides; H in oligoamylysozyme]. loses, cyclodextrins, maltrioses and malthexoses; H in proteins; H in nucleic acids; H in water; hydration of proteins; hydration of nucleic acids; role of three centre H in the dynamics of hydration and structure transition. A very interesting and stimulating book.
Fundamentals of Protein Biotechnology-Edited by S. STEIN. 310~~. 1990. Marcel Dekker, New York. U.S.A. Canada: $99.75. Elsewhere: $119.50. On orders of 5 or more copies for classroom use: $49.75.
Sequence Analysis Primer-Edited by M. GRIBSKOVand J. DEVEREUX.279 pp. 1981. Stockton Press/Macmillan, New York. $39.95 paperback.
The topics dealt with are; protein (P) structure; P biosynthesis; P purification and analysis by liquid chromatography and electrophoresis; P as biological effecters; isolation of natural P; large scale production of human leukocyte interferon; production of human calcitonin by recombinant DNA technology; structural analysis of P, chemical synthesis of peptides; production and analysis of P by recombinant DNA technology; monoclonal antibodies.
This book will help the reader understand computerized sequence analysis including homology searches; stem-loop identification; protein secondary structure prediction; steps for characterizing the gene sequence of NOTCH; sequencing project management; identification of mRNA signals; RNA structure; DNA structure; similarity versus homology; dot matrix methods; dynamic programming; scoring systems; multiple sequence alignment; appendices [nucleic acid codes; amino acid codes; log-odd matrices; software; hardware; databases; glossary].
Motor Proteins-Edited by R. A. CROSS and J. KENDRICK-JONES. 168 pp. 1991. Portland Press, Colchester. This is Supplement 14 to the Journal of Cell Science, based on the EMBO workshop held in 1990. It deals with the measurement of force production; speed of motion; directionality of the force; polymeric assembly of motors; geometry of interaction; self assembly tracks. These systems are at work in muscle, nerve axonal transport, cell division, embryology and phagocytosis. A well produced and useful summary of a subject that has shown dramatic developments over the last decade.
Biochemistry of Respiration-D. C. JAMESand G. S. MATTHEWS. 90 pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. %I1.95 paperback. This is an introductory text on the major respiratory pathways. There is an initial section on basic biochemistry, followed by the stages in the respiratory pathways. There are questions, summary diagrams and revision points. A useful introducton giving the essential information that students should know and remember. Understanding Enzymes, 3rd e&+-T. PALMER.399 pp. 1991. Prentice-Hall/Ellis Horwood, New York. $39.95 paperback. This third edition has been brought up to date and includes chapter summaries, problems (and answers), and further reading. The main chapters are on; background to enzymes (E); structure of proteins; biosynthesis and properties of proteins; specificity of E action; monomeric and oligomeric E; bioenergetics, catalysis and kinetics; kinetics of singlesubstrate E catalysed reaction; E inhibition; kinetics of multi-substrate E catalysed reactions; active site structure;
Recent Advances in Chiral Separations-Edited by D. STEVEN~QN and I. D. WILSON.230 DV. 1990. Plenum Press. New York. $69.50. Many drugs, pesticides and substrates contain one or more chiral centers but the majority are marketed as racemates. With advances in the separation of the enantiomers, the activity of each enantiomer can be evaluated. The chapters of this book deal with; chiral separations by HPLC; separation of pyrethroids; beta blockers; mefloquines; doxazosins; cyclodextrins; benzopyrans; use of thin layer chromatography; immobilized- protein columns; mobile phase additives; diode laser polarimetric HPLC: enantiomer separation on the process scale.
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